Martin: "I thought our team put in a really good performance"

10 November 2018

Sponsored by

After the Spireites’ 1-1 draw against Billericay Town in the FA Cup first round, Martin Allen began the post-match press conference by stating that his side had enough chances to win and progress in the competition.

“I thought we did play very well today, and as you rightly say we did have enough chances there to have won that game,” said Allen.

“Fair play to the players they went right to the end, trying to find an opening. The opposition put their bodies on the line, as you would expect in an FA Cup tie.

“I thought it was a great FA Cup tie. I thought our team put in a really good performance.”

Laurence Maguire got his first goal of the season as he climbed highest to head into the bottom corner from a Joe Rowley free-kick.

Allen explained that the move that gave Chesterfield the lead had been perfected on the training pitch.

The boss said: “We’ve worked hard on that over the last couple of weeks. We had a couple more chances off corners and free kicks.

It’s a relief really because we have been horrendous from set plays for, we’ve done ok on set plays against.”

The visitors equalised via a Moses Emmanuel strike in the 52nd minute, the forward evaded a challenge from Haydn Hollis before putting it into the top left corner from around 20 yards out.

Reflecting on Billericay’s equaliser, Allen acknowledged that it was a special strike, but his defence could have prevented it from happening.

Allen explained: “It was a great goal from their point of view. From our point of view, it was a poor challenge, he didn’t need to squeeze in front of him to get it.

“There’s no need for the centre back to go fishing. Keep the player in front of you, let him have the ball in front of you, and defend when he turns either side.

“He made it easy for the centre-forward to take his pot shot. It was an unbelievable goal into the top corner.”

Allen went onto praise the away side, who currently sit top of the National League South table, by saying: “You don’t have the promotions that they’ve had if you’re not a good team.

“Their manager Dean did very well at Hemel Hempstead, he brought good young players through there.

“They are very well organised; they’ve got good players within their ranks. They’re just a good team. Forget the difference in the divisions.”

The Spireites now go onto play Havant and Waterlooville at the Proact in the National League next Saturday (November 17).